When can you tell male from female?

[JillAndMaya]

I want to buy some ducks from a lady, but I want 2 females. How old will the ducks have to be before we can reliably tell whether they are male or female?
Jill and Maya

 

[ILuvMyFlock]

I think when they're younger some people can sex them solely based on the Ducks personality , others do an internal sex test I think it is? You can also tell when their tail feathers come in, the boys usually have a curl, the girls don't. If you want two girls buy from a place that does sex them.

 

[JillAndMaya]

Are males hard on the females when they mate, like roosters are? That is mostly why I am trying to avoid a male. We had one hen and one rooster and he worked her over. Now we have 3 hens and one roo and chicken saddles on the girls. Don't want to go through this with ducks, too.

 

[TLWR]

Some can be sexed at birth by coloring, might just be Welsh Harlequins ,not sure of other breeds that can be sexed by color.
If it is a mallard derived breed, by 6 weeks or so, the girls should start quacking. A few weeks later, the boys should be sounding like they have laryngitis.

How old are the ducks you are looking at buying and what breed?

 

[JillAndMaya]

We are looking at Silver Appleyard ducks. The woman says she has them hatching now. The problem is my daughter wants them as young as possible, so they will bond with her, and I don't really want to deal with a brooder set up! And I want females so I don't have to worry with overmating or problems with my rooster.

 

[ILuvMyFlock]

Hmm typically the ducks are more wild like compared to other species like geese, turkeys, and hens which have more of a potential to be tamer. I've had my fair share of fairly tame birds but most of my ducks prefer to do their own thing if that makes sense. Maybe it all depends on the breeds though. I love ducks but they're more of an admire me sort of bird. If you're looking for a really tame bird get a turkey and raise it from a baby, I have some super tame turkeys they let me hold them even though they're so big now - they're fully grown.

As for mating, no the males are not rough, I have yet to see a damaged female duck from mating.

 

[ILuvMyFlock]

If you're intending to buy them just hatched you will most definitely need a setup with a light, and the light should be red and It needs to be a certain watt for heat, the ducklings will more than likely die without a heat lamp of sorts.

 

[JillAndMaya]

Thanks for your advise and comments. We decided to go with ducklings from Murray McMurray, and we chose one black swedish female and one rouen female. They arrived today! My daughter had their new home all ready for them!

Of course one of them is already standing in the water! lol